Cyclic scheduling in robotic flowshops with bounded work‐in‐process levels

This study addresses cyclic scheduling in robotic flowshops with bounded work‐in‐process (WIP) levels. The objective is to minimize the cycle time or, equivalently, to maximize the throughput, under the condition that the WIP level is bounded from above by a given integer number. We present several strongly polynomial algorithms for the 2‐cyclic robotic flowshop scheduling problems for various WIP levels. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 58: 1–16, 2011     

A stochastic model for burn‐in procedures in accelerated environment

Burn‐in procedure is a manufacturing technique that is intended to eliminate early failures of system or product. Burning‐in a component or system means to subject it to a period of use prior to being used in field. Generally, burn‐in is considered expensive and so the length of burn‐in is typically limited. Thus, burn‐in is most often accomplished in an accelerated environment in order to shorten the burn‐in process. A new failure rate model for an accelerated burn‐in procedure, which incorporates the accelerated ageing process induced by the accelerated environmental stress, is proposed. Under a more general assumption on the shape of failure rate function of products, which includes the traditional bathtub‐shaped failure rate function as a special case, upper bounds for optimal burn‐in time will be derived. A numerical example will also be given for illustration. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006     

Military spending and economic growth in South Africa

This paper undertakes an empirical analysis of the economic effects of military spending on the South African economy. It estimates a neo‐classical model common in the literature at the level of the macroeconomy and at the level of the manufacturing sector. An attempt is made to improve upon the model by allowing the data to determine the dynamic structure of the model through an ARDL procedure. No significant impact of military spending is found in aggregate, but there is a significant negative impact for the manufacturing sector. This suggests that the cuts in domestic military procurement that have occurred since 1989 could lead to improved economic performance in South Africa through their impact on the manufacturing sector.     

可移植人体外耳支架的3D打印关键技术

探索使用医用硅胶制作患者个体外耳支架的关键技术,使用计算机断层扫描和逆向建模技术得到对应患者个体的外耳数字模型,利用3D打印技术制造人体外耳支架模具,并使用医用硅胶MED 4735完成人体外耳支架的制作成型。动物实验验证了其生物相容性,证明了方法的可行性。通过该技术制作的硅胶人体外耳支架可以高度模仿患者特定的耳廓形状,支架精度高、制造周期短、无生物排异,可为替代肋软骨雕刻人体外耳支架进行耳廓缺损治疗提供依据。     

A nonlinear continuous time optimal control model of dynamic pricing and inventory control with no backorders

In this paper, we present a continuous time optimal control model for studying a dynamic pricing and inventory control problem for a make‐to‐stock manufacturing system. We consider a multiproduct capacitated, dynamic setting. We introduce a demand‐based model where the demand is a linear function of the price, the inventory cost is linear, the production cost is an increasing strictly convex function of the production rate, and all coefficients are time‐dependent. A key part of the model is that no backorders are allowed. We introduce and study an algorithm that computes the optimal production and pricing policy as a function of the time on a finite time horizon, and discuss some insights. Our results illustrate the role of capacity and the effects of the dynamic nature of demand in the model. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2007     

A model for step‐stress accelerated life testing

Modern technology is producing high reliability products. Life testing for such products under normal use condition takes a lot of time to obtain a reasonable number of failures. In this situation a step‐stress procedure is preferred for accelerated life testing. In this paper we assume a Weibull and Lognormal model whose scale parameter depends upon the present level as well as the age at the entry in the present stress level. On the basis of that we propose a parametric model to the life distribution for step‐stress testing and suggest a suitable design to estimate the parameters involved in the model. A simulation study has been done by the proposed model based on maximum likelihood estimation. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2003     

一种用于SpaceWire网络的混合路由机制设计*

针对星上系统总线多元性导致的星载网络接口和协议不能标准化的发展瓶颈,本文基于SpaceWire总线协议,通过将静态路由(时间触发)与动态路由(事件触发)机制结合,实现了控制数据和载荷数据共用网络。静态路由完全遵循SpaceWire-D协议,在保证确定性传输的同时,通过启发式调度算法首次实现了多时间窗并行调度,并提出利用最大公约数法设计时间窗,以提高网络吞吐量；动态路由通过对随机事件和载荷数据分配优先级,实现传输路径冲突时对紧急任务的优先处理。最后在OPENT中搭建网络系统仿真模型,对所提出的路由机制进行了仿真。实验结果表明,静态路由时段网络吞吐量较现有调度算法有明显提高,动态路由实现了紧急事件优先传输。     

Energy‐efficient scheduling for sustainable manufacturing systems with renewable energy resources

Environmentally friendly energy resources open a new opportunity to tackle the problem of energy security and climate change arising from wide use of fossil fuels. This paper focuses on optimizing the allocation of the energy generated by the renewable energy system to minimize the total electricity cost for sustainable manufacturing systems under time‐of‐use tariff by clipping the peak demand. A rolling horizon approach is adopted to handle the uncertainty caused by the weather change. A nonlinear mathematical programming model is established for each decision epoch based on the predicted energy generation and the probability distribution of power demand in the manufacturing plant. The objective function of the model is shown to be convex, Lipchitz‐continuous, and subdifferentiable. A generalized benders decomposition method based on the primal‐dual subgradient descent algorithm is proposed to solve the model. A series of numerical experiments is conducted to show the effectiveness of the solution approach and the significant benefits of using the renewable energy resources.     

Reliability inference for field conditions from accelerated degradation testing

Accelerated degradation testing (ADT) is usually conducted under deterministic stresses such as constant‐stress, step‐stress, and cyclic‐stress. Based on ADT data, an ADT model is developed to predict reliability under normal (field) operating conditions. In engineering applications, the “standard” approach for reliability prediction assumes that the normal operating conditions are deterministic or simply uses the mean values of the stresses while ignoring their variability. Such an approach may lead to significant prediction errors. In this paper, we extend an ADT model obtained from constant‐stress ADT experiments to predict field reliability by considering the stress variations. A case study is provided to demonstrate the proposed statistical inference procedure. The accuracy of the procedure is verified by simulation using various distributions of field stresses. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006.     

A worst‐case formulation for constrained ranking and selection with input uncertainty

In this research, we consider robust simulation optimization with stochastic constraints. In particular, we focus on the ranking and selection problem in which the computing time is sufficient to evaluate all the designs (solutions) under consideration. Given a fixed simulation budget, we aim at maximizing the probability of correct selection (PCS) for the best feasible design, where the objective and constraint measures are assessed by their worst‐case performances. To simplify the complexity of PCS, we develop an approximated probability measure and derive the asymptotic optimality condition (optimality condition as the simulation budget goes to infinity) of the resulting problem. A sequential selection procedure is then designed within the optimal computing budget allocation framework. The high efficiency of the proposed procedure is tested via a number of numerical examples. In addition, we provide some useful insights into the efficiency of a budget allocation procedure.     

战术移动Ad Hoc网络下的分布式位置辅助功率控制算法

针对战术移动自组(AdHoc)网络提出一种分布式位置辅助的功率控制算法(LAPCA),它通过位置预测来推算节点的邻节点数目,进而调整信号发射功率,以保持最佳的网络连通性,由此提高整个网络的有效流量。该算法作为一个独立模块可以方便地与已有的移动自组网络路由协议相结合。采用较为适合战术环境的参考点群组移动(RPGM)模型来产生网络仿真场景,从仿真实验结果来看,几乎在所有的RPGM场景下采用该算法后的网络有效流量相对于纯粹的AODV路由协议都得到了提高。     

General multiprocessor task scheduling

Most papers in the scheduling field assume that a job can be processed by only one machine at a time. Namely, they use a one‐job‐on‐one‐machine model. In many industry settings, this may not be an adequate model. Motivated by human resource planning, diagnosable microprocessor systems, berth allocation, and manufacturing systems that may require several resources simultaneously to process a job, we study the problem with a one‐job‐on‐multiple‐machine model. In our model, there are several alternatives that can be used to process a job. In each alternative, several machines need to process simultaneously the job assigned. Our purpose is to select an alternative for each job and then to schedule jobs to minimize the completion time of all jobs. In this paper, we provide a pseudopolynomial algorithm to solve optimally the two‐machine problem, and a combination of a fully polynomial scheme and a heuristic to solve the three‐machine problem. We then extend the results to a general m‐machine problem. Our algorithms also provide an effective lower bounding scheme which lays the foundation for solving optimally the general m‐machine problem. Furthermore, our algorithms can also be applied to solve a special case of the three‐machine problem in pseudopolynomial time. Both pseudopolynomial algorithms (for two‐machine and three‐machine problems) are much more efficient than those in the literature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 46: 57–74, 1999     

调度感知同步数据流建模

对流应用系统进行吞吐量分析需要将周期静态顺序调度建模到数据流图中,吞吐量分析效率依赖于数据流图的规模及建模时间。为了提高吞吐量分析效率,提出基于同构同步数据流图的调度感知同步数据流模型及相应建模方法。通过利用应用模型结构特征及周期静态顺序调度,可减少模型中的任务、边和初始符号数目;可以使用已有分析方法对模型进行吞吐量分析。实验结果表明,所提建模方法优于已有方法,可有效提高吞吐量分析效率。     

Optimal maintenance policies for serial,multi‐machine systems with non‐instantaneous repairs

We study optimal age‐replacement policies for machines in series with non‐instantaneous repair times by formulating two nonlinear programs: one that minimizes total cost‐rate subject to a steady‐state throughput requirement and another that maximizes steady‐state throughput subject to a cost‐rate budget constraint. Under reasonable assumptions, the single‐machine cost‐optimal and throughput‐optimal solutions are unique and orderable, and the multi‐machine optimal solutions have appealing structure. Furthermore, we establish equivalence between the two formulations and provide an illustrative numerical example. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2006     

一种具有优先级的MAC协议性能分析

在移动通信中,为了满足高动态终端对接入的高要求,设计了一种带有优先级的随机预约/按需分配相结合的MAC协议RRDAMA-P(random reserve/demand assignment multiple access protocol with priority),并利用Opnet软件进行了建模仿真,仿真结果表明,RRDAMA-P协议不仅可以满足终端的优先级要求,而且实现了更好的吞吐量和时延性能。     

Information security: Designing a stochastic‐network for throughput and reliability

Todas information and communication network requires a design that is secure to tampering. Traditional performance measures of reliability and throughput must be supplemented with measures of security. Recognition of an adversary who can inflict damage leads toward a game‐theoretic model. Through such a formulation, guidelines for network designs and improvements are derived. We opt for a design that is most robust to withstand both natural degradation and adversarial attacks. Extensive computational experience with such a model suggests that a Nash‐equilibrium design exists that can withstand the worst possible damage. Most important, the equilibrium is value‐free in that it is stable irrespective of the unit costs associated with reliability vs. capacity improvement and how one wishes to trade between throughput and reliability. This finding helps to pinpoint the most critical components in network design. From a policy standpoint, the model also allows the monetary value of information‐security to be imputed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2009     

Capacity expansion under a service‐level constraint for uncertain demand with lead times

For a service provider facing stochastic demand growth, expansion lead times and economies of scale complicate the expansion timing and sizing decisions. We formulate a model to minimize the infinite horizon expected discounted expansion cost under a service‐level constraint. The service level is defined as the proportion of demand over an expansion cycle that is satisfied by available capacity. For demand that follows a geometric Brownian motion process, we impose a stationary policy under which expansions are triggered by a fixed ratio of demand to the capacity position, i.e., the capacity that will be available when any current expansion project is completed, and each expansion increases capacity by the same proportion. The risk of capacity shortage during a cycle is estimated analytically using the value of an up‐and‐out partial barrier call option. A cutting plane procedure identifies the optimal values of the two expansion policy parameters simultaneously. Numerical instances illustrate that if demand grows slowly with low volatility and the expansion lead times are short, then it is optimal to delay the start of expansion beyond when demand exceeds the capacity position. Delays in initiating expansions are coupled with larger expansion sizes. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2009     

基于3D打印的可移植人体外耳支架关键技术研究*

耳廓缺损是临床常见疾病，使用患者自体肋软骨雕刻为耳支架并植入缺损耳皮下是目前的主要治疗方法。该方法对手术者提出很高的技术要求，雕刻的外耳支架无法精确还原患者耳廓形状，同时肋软骨的切除会对患者带来并发症。本文探索使用医用硅胶制作患者个体外耳支架的关键技术，使用CT和逆向建模技术得到对应患者个体的外耳数字模型，利用3D打印技术制造人体外耳支架模具，并使用医用硅胶MED 4735完成人体外耳支架的制作成型。动物实验验证了其生物相容性，证明了该方法的可行性。通过该技术制作的硅胶人体外耳支架可以高度模仿患者特定的耳廓形状，支架精度高，制造周期短，无生物排异，可为替代肋软骨雕刻人体外耳支架进行耳廓缺损治疗提供依据。     

Analysis of production lines with Coxian service times and no intermediate buffers

This paper uses the holding time model (HTM) method to derive an approximate analytic formula for the calculation of the mean throughput of a K-station production line with no buffers between any two successive stations. Service times follow the two-stage Coxian (C²) distribution at all stations. The paper provides a formula that relates the third moment of the service completion (or virtual service) time with the respective parameters of the service time, the repair time and the time to breakdown (the latter is assumed to follow the exponential distribution). In this way, it concludes that under certain conditions the two-stage Coxian distribution can be used to approximate any general distribution matching the first three moments of the service completion time distribution. The mean holding times (consisting of the service and blocking periods) of all stations of the line are obtained in an analytical form. Numerical results are provided for the mean throughput of lines with up to 20 stations. These results are shown to have a good accuracy compared against results obtained from the Markovian state method (for short lines) and results from simulation (for longer lines). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 45: 669–685, 1998     

带壳体云爆弹药液体燃料抛撒的数值模拟

建立了带壳体云爆弹药数值模拟模型,分析了圆柱壳体的断裂准则。壳体材料采用Johnson-Cook热粘性本构方程,断裂准则采用Taylor断裂应力准则,应用Autodyn软件进行了数值模拟,给出了内部爆炸载荷下液体燃料的压力曲线和速度曲线,并进行了分析。